RUFFLED FEATHERS by KC from Casey

[Demonland 73,106]

The Casey Scorpions grabbed top spot on the VFL ladder and ruffled a few Magpie feathers after hammering finals aspirants Collingwood to the tune of a crushing 90-points at Casey Fields on Saturday.

The Scorpion onslaught was led all day by midfield ball magnets Paul Couch who amassed 39 disposals and James Magner who had two touches less. Together, they dominated the stoppages and general play and were aided and abetted by some top notch ruckwork from Jake Spencer (19 hit outs to go with his three goals) and the emerging beanpole Max Gawn. Up forward, young key position player Jesse Hogan belied his tender age of 18 with strong marking and tireless work around the ground. The young tyro managed 15 possesions, taking 9 marks and had his kicking been on target (he scored 2.3) the rout would certainly have exceeded the 100-point mark. Former North Melbourne rookie Ben Hughes also chimed in with three nice goals.

The Magpies opened brightly under the sunny skies and had most of the early play but once the home team adapted to the chilly breezes, it faced little resistance winning every quarter and coasting effortlessly to a 15 goal win. Indeed, apart from a little biffo and remonstrating at one stage in proceedings, the visitors hardly did justice to the jumper.

However, they were beaten by a very good side. The Casey defence was strong with Troy Davis and Luke Tynan not only proving to be impassable but also providing countless springboards into attack. They finished with 27 and 26 disposals respectively and together with their fellow defenders, kept the Magpies down to a measly seven goals, less than half their average over their now broken three week winning streak against Geelong, Essendon and the Northern Blues.

Davis, now in his third year on the Melbourne list and yet to play a game at AFL level is finally staking a claim for promotion.

Casey's ruck dominance was achieved against a strong tall man division which included Ben Hudson and Jarrod Witts who along with Gawn at 208cm, is equal second tallest current AFL behind injured Docker Aaron Sandilands.

Late inclusion Shannon Byrnes livened up the forward line with a couple of goals, a feat matched by Casey-South Melbourne cricket captain Jake Best. Twenty-third man Jarryd Drew got into the action with a goal after the final siren to cap off a great day on which the club also ran a successful debt demolition function before the game.

The team has a break next week with the bye before taking on the Coburg Tigers at home on 23 June. The Development League team which rested this week, play away next weekend to fourth placed Werribee Tigers.

HOW THE DEMONS FARED

Shannon Byrnes 14 kicks 5 handballs 19 disposals 5 marks 2 tackles 2 goals
Mitchell Clisby 11 kicks 8 handballs 19 disposals 5 marks 2 tackles
Thomas Couch 11 kicks 28 handballs 39 disposals 5 marks 2 tackles 2 goals
Troy Davis 14 kicks 13 handballs 27 disposals 5 marks 1 tackles
Max Gawn 9 kicks 8 handballs 17 disposals 3 marks 26 hit outs 1 goal
Thomas Gillies 8 kicks 7 handballs 15 disposals 4 marks 3 tackles
Jesse Hogan 11 kicks 4 handballs 15 disposals 10 marks 2 tackles 3 hit outs 2 goals 3 behinds
Neville Jetta 8 kicks 5 handballs 13 disposals 5 marks 8 tackles 2 goals
James Magner 22 kicks 15 handballs 37 disposals 7 marks 5 tackles 1 goal 2 behinds
Daniel Nicholson 16 kicks 11 handballs 27 disposals 1 mark 4 tackles
James Sellar 6 kicks 7 handballs 13 disposals 6 marks
Jake Spencer 9 kicks 5 handballs 14 disposals 7 marks 3 tackles 19 hit outs 3 goals 3 behinds
James Strauss 7 kicks 7 handballs 14 disposals 3 marks 4 tackles
Rory Taggert 7 kicks 4 handballs 11 disposals 4 marks 3 tackles
Joshua Tynan 13 kicks 6 handballs 19 disposals 7 marks 8 tackles

Casey Scorpions 5.3.33 9.7.61 14.11.95 21.15.141

Collingwood 2.1.13 3.3.21 5.6.36 7.9.51

Goals

Casey Scorpions Goals Hughes Spencer 3 Best Byrnes Couch Hogan Jetta 2 Drew Gawn Gent Petropoulos Magner

Collingwood Broomhead 2 Clarke Hudson Mooney Paine

Best

Casey Scorpions Couch Magner L Tynan Hogan Davis Spencer

Collingwood Mooney Allan Yagmoor Broomhead Riddle Hellier